Barthropp, Sidney Alfred Nathaniel Shafto

He was the only son of Major Alfred Shafto Barthropp and Ellen Ada Wentworth Barthropp, of Newport House, Essex. His uncle, Philip George Barthropp, was for many years Master of the Essex and Suffolk Foxhounds. He was born in Kensington and came to Winchester from Mr. Snowden’s school at Broadstairs: his last year he was a House Prefect and played in Commoner XV.

He went up to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1910, and taking his degree in 1913 went on to Bishop’s Hostel at Farnham with the intention of studying for the Church. He was devoted to field sports and a keen student of natural life: he would sometimes stay out all night observing the habits of badgers and foxes. In June 1914 he was chosen to be Master of the Eastern Counties Otter Hounds.

On the outbreak of war he was appointed to the 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve) Royal Sussex Regiment, and early in 1915 joined the 2nd Battalion in France. He fell at Cuinchy, near Bethune, on January 29th 1915, while defending the section of the line held by his platoon against an enemy attack.

His Commanding Officer wrote to his father: “He was killed on 29th January during an attack by the Germans upon a portion of the line which we were holding, and in which the company with which your son was serving put up a very gallant defence, and beat off a very determined attack. He died a soldier’s death in the very front of the fight. In him, we feel we have lost a comrade who was bound to do well, and who, during the short time he had been with us, had endeared himself to all. “